B. Hebrew Women: Marriage and Divorce
In biblical Jewish culture, marriage was regarded as a sacred covenant symbolic of God’s relationship with His chosen people Israel. The Old Testament is very formative
in shaping our understanding of marriage. Marriage is instituted by God at creation Parents were responsible for choosing appropriate spouses for their children, and the
young man and woman were expected to accept their parents’ arrangements. Betrothal was similar to engagement as we now know it, but it was much more binding. Once betrothed a couple was considered legally married, even though the marriage was not yet consummated. Therefore, marriage is scared ceremony. The incest prohibitions listed in Leviticus 18 forbid marriage with "any one near of kin", a vague category with no intrinsic definition. The Mosaic Law apparently, on the side of the husband, made it as difficult as possible for him to secure a divorce. No man could unceremoniously and capriciously dismiss his wife without the semblance of a trial. Divorce was denied two classes of husbands (a) the man who had falsely accused hiswife of ante nuptial (preceding marriage) infidelity (Deut. 22:13), and (b) a person who had seduced a virgin (Deut. 22:28). In addition, a heavy penalty had to be paid to the father of the daughter.
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